Pipe bomb a 'scare tactic', says whistleblower Nataphol

A pipe bomb was found last night at the Bangkok home of former Democrat Party MP Nataphol Teepsuwan and wife Taya, who are anti-government protest leaders.

Nataphol claimed the bomb was a scare tactic in response to his and Taya’s well-publicised whistleblowing directed at Pojaman na Pombejra at a Bangkok shopping mall on Wednesday.

Pojaman is the former wife of fugitive prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra,

The home-made bomb was discovered at the Sukhumvit Soi 18 house after a guard reported seeing an object thrown into the grounds from a speeding Honda motorcycle.

A video clip of Nataphol and Taya hounding Pojaman while she was shopping at Emporium mall has gone viral on YouTube, drawing praise from anti-government supporters and harsh criticism from the pro-government faction.

In related news, a police panel to probe recent M79-grenade attacks has been set up at the request of People’s Democratic Reform Committee chief Suthep Thaugsuban. Suthep made the request to national police chief Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew, who has appointed his deputy, Pol Lt-General Winai Thongsong, to head the panel. Winai has set up four sub-panels, covering the investigation, forensic science, explosives identification, and explosives ordnance disposal.

Weapons ‘possibly smuggled’

Army commander General Prayuth Chan-ocha said it was unlikely the M79 launchers and grenades used in political violence came from the military’s armoury, but were probably smuggled into Thailand. He condemned the attacks and branded those behind them as inhumane.

A fatal attack on anti-government protests in Trat last Saturday night claimed a third victim yesterday, the Erawan emergency medical service centre reported.

The centre did not identify the victim, but media outlets said the woman was Phistawan Un-jai, 39, a native of Chanthaburi province. She was pronounced dead at 4am yesterday at a Trat hospital.

Her funeral is being held at Wat Khong Sanam Pao in Muang district.

Two five-year-old girls were also killed in the attack in Trat, when assailants sprayed bullets and threw bombs into an area where protesters were gathering.

Nataphol claimed the bomb was a scare tactic in response to his and Taya’s well-publicised whistleblowing directed at Pojaman na Pombejra at a Bangkok shopping mall on Wednesday.

Pojaman is the former wife of fugitive prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra,

The home-made bomb was discovered at the Sukhumvit Soi 18 house after a guard reported seeing an object thrown into the grounds from a speeding Honda motorcycle.

A video clip of Nataphol and Taya hounding Pojaman while she was shopping at Emporium mall has gone viral on YouTube, drawing praise from anti-government supporters and harsh criticism from the pro-government faction.

In related news, a police panel to probe recent M79-grenade attacks has been set up at the request of People’s Democratic Reform Committee chief Suthep Thaugsuban. Suthep made the request to national police chief Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew, who has appointed his deputy, Pol Lt-General Winai Thongsong, to head the panel. Winai has set up four sub-panels, covering the investigation, forensic science, explosives identification, and explosives ordnance disposal.

Weapons ‘possibly smuggled’

Army commander General Prayuth Chan-ocha said it was unlikely the M79 launchers and grenades used in political violence came from the military’s armoury, but were probably smuggled into Thailand. He condemned the attacks and branded those behind them as inhumane.

A fatal attack on anti-government protests in Trat last Saturday night claimed a third victim yesterday, the Erawan emergency medical service centre reported.

The centre did not identify the victim, but media outlets said the woman was Phistawan Un-jai, 39, a native of Chanthaburi province. She was pronounced dead at 4am yesterday at a Trat hospital.

Her funeral is being held at Wat Khong Sanam Pao in Muang district.

Two five-year-old girls were also killed in the attack in Trat, when assailants sprayed bullets and threw bombs into an area where protesters were gathering.